Witnesses said the target was a white Subaru car in the Jebaliya refugee camp, a sprawling shantytown next to Gaza City. Mohanna, the Islamic Jihad field commander in northern Gaza, was killed along with his assistant, Mohammed Ghazaineh.

The attack came as Palestinians were leaving mosques after evening prayers, they said, and at least six people were taken to a hospital.

The Israeli military refused to comment. Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said, "We want to condemn this attack and warn about the consequences of this escalation."

Earlier Thursday, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Israel would carry out a relentless campaign against Palestinian militant groups, a day after an Islamic Jihad suicide bomber killed five Israelis in the Israeli town of Hadera.

Islamic Jihad said the suicide bombing was retaliation for Israel's killing of a West Bank leader of the group earlier in the week, AP reported.
V.A.